Nickname Poised For Navan

Martin Brassil is hoping Navan's meeting on Saturday can beat the weather so that late Queen Mother Champion Chase defector Nickname can take his chance in the Russell Restaurant An Uaimh Chase.

The eight-year-old finished second to Noel Meade's Watson Lake, who is also a possible, in the Grade Three race 12 months ago.

Brassil was disappointed his mudlark could not take his chance at Cheltenham due to the drying ground but there is no chance of that scuppering his plans this weekend.

'There's nothing but bad weather here at the moment so the only thing that would stop him running is if the meeting was called off,' he said.

'It's a very bad weather forecast for the rest of the week.

'It was such a shame it dried up at Cheltenham, but it is just so well drained.

'The ground was a bit slower on the new course, but I don't think it would have made a difference to us.

'The winner (Voy Por Ustedes) would have been hard to beat. He has done everything right as he made a real bad error two out but won well.'

Brassil also had news of Numbersixvalverde as he puts the finishing touches to his preparations in his bid for a second Grand National.

'Everything is going well with him, thank goodness,' said Brassil.

'It was very sad to hear about Nil Desperandum on Saturday, he's been a real good horse. And Mr (David) Pipe's horse, Little Brick as well.

'It just goes to show how much luck you need to even get them there on the day, never mind in the race.'

(C) PA Sport